The State Council has approved the upgrading of a high-tech industrial development zone to national level of Aksu and Alaer in Northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, according to a circular issued on June 16.

The upgraded development zone will cover an area of 13.94 square kilometers, consisting of three regions, the circular stated.

The zone is expected to become a demonstration zone for innovation-driven development and a frontier in high-quality development, shaping a new landscape for the western development strategy.

The zone will strengthen the capability of independent innovation and make breakthroughs in core technologies in key fields while pool a large number of scientific and technological talents and innovation teams.

The zone is also required to reinforce the principal role of enterprises in innovation; promote the industrial application of scientific and technological advances; cultivate high-tech enterprises and micro, small, and medium technological enterprises; and promote deeper integration of the innovation, industrial, capital, and talent chains to boost the upgrade of the real economy.

Management and operation mechanisms of the zone should be refined to achieve coordinated development between the development zone and the administrative region, according to the circular.

The circular also urged the zone to strictly abide by national land use plans and other related guidelines.

Related departments should strengthen leadership and management of the zone and make overall plans for the development and governance of the urban area and the zone to improve the zone’s comprehensive functions, the circular said.